Made in England

The Wicked Witch of the West gets to tell her side of the story in the Wizard of Oz prequel, Wicked (2024). Adapted from the hit stage musical, Wicked follows Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) on their journey from Shiz University to the Emerald City. Tamiko Dooley, composer lyricist and poet, joins to discuss the film. Tamiko is the creator of Flyology, a new musical. Follow Flyology on Instagram and Tiktok. Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Tamiko DooleyTheme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

Naked (1993) stars David Thewlis as Johnny, a charming and articulate but vicious misfit, drifting around London on a nocturnal odyssey, colliding with a succession of desperate and dispossessed characters. Mike Leigh’s script is scintillating and it’s arguably his best directorial work too. The film won the best director and best actor prizes at the Cannes Film Festival.Alonso Ruizpalacios, writer-director of Gueros (2014), Museo (2018), A Cop Movie (2021) and La Cocina (2024), joins to discuss the film. Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Alonso RuizpalaciosTheme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

A married man starts an ‘affair’ with two schoolgirls in bawdy Thatcher-era comedy, Rita, Sue and Bob Too (1987). Written by Andrea Dunbar based on her own play, directed by Alan Clarke, and starring Siobhan Finneran, Michelle Holmes and George Costigan. Film writer Adam Lowes joins to discuss the film. Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Adam LowesTheme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

At 9.30pm on 23rd September 1984, with the Cold War still ongoing, the BBC broadcast nuclear fallout drama Threads. Written by Barry Hines and directed and produced by Mick Jackson, the film went well beyond looking at the effect of a nuclear bomb on buildings and people, it examined, in unrelenting and unflinching detail, what it would do to the very fabric of society. The Cold War may be over, but Threads, which is available to watch on BBC iPlayer, remains as terrifying and horrifying as when it was first shown. Illustrator Rebecca Strickson joins to discuss the film. Buy Becky’s work at https://rebeccastrickson.bigcartel.com. Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Rebecca StricksonTheme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

Hitmen Jay (Neil Maskell) and Gal (Michael Smiley) take on a new assignment, but what starts as an easy task soon unravels, revealing darker things beneath, in Ben Wheatley’s Kill List (2011). Heather Parry, author of Orpheus Builds A Girl and Carrion Crow, joins to discuss the film. Heather writes about film (and other things) at https://heatherparry.substack.comHost: Jack McInroy Guest: Heather ParryTheme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

Steve Coogan stars as Tony Wilson in Michael Winterbottom’s comedy music biopic about the rise and fall of Factory Records, 24 Hour Party People (2002). Writer and editor Paul Wilson (no relation) joins to discuss the film. Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Paul WilsonTheme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

Two brothers, Aston (Robert Shaw) and Mick (Alan Bates), take in a tramp (Donald Pleasence) and offer him the role of caretaker in their run down flat, in Harold Pinter’s The Caretaker (1963). Barney Farmer, novelist and writer Viz comic strip Drunken Bakers, joins to discuss the film. Barney’s books are available from Wrecking Ball Press: https://wreckingballpress.com/authors/barney-farmer/Host: Jack McInroyGuest: Barney FarmerTheme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqfhttps://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

Brian, a lonely inventor in rural Wales, builds himself a robot out of an old washing machine, but what happens when his companion wants to move on? Brian and Charles (2022) is written by and starring David Earl and Charles Hayward, and directed by Jim Archer. Artist Babak Ganjei joins to discuss the film. Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Babak GanjeiTheme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

Moviedrome premiered on BBC 2 in May 1988, on a mission to show cult films to counter ‘the abysmal drek that passes for entertainment in contemporary cinema’. The show was hosted by Alex Cox, director of Repo Man and Sid & Nancy, who offered balanced and thoughtful intros to the films. A new season at the BFI brings some of Moviedrome’s most popular selections to the big screen and BFI player, with introductions from Alex Cox, producer Nick Freand Jones and others. Alex Cox returns to Made in England to talk about the show, the season and his upcoming film, Dead Souls. Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Alex CoxTheme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

November 1932: A group of wealthy guests and their servants gather in an English country house for dinner, music, and, inevitably, murder, in Robert Altman’s upstairs-downstairs comedy mystery, Gosford Park (2001). The film was a hit with critics and audiences, becoming Altman’s biggest hit since M*A*S*H, and won several awards, including an Oscar for screenwriter Julian Fellowes. One of the most impressive ensemble casts ever put together, includes Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Helen Mirren, Kristin Scott Thomas, Bob Balaban, Kelly Macdonald, Clive Owen, Ryan Phillipee, Emily Waton, Alan Bates, Charles Dance, Richard E Grant, Derek Jakobi, and Stephen Fry. Crime novelist Nicolás Obregón joins to discuss the film. Nic’s latest book, The Sugar Man (Penguin Michael Joseph), is out now and https://obregonbooks.com/ You can listen to his podcast, Faceless, here: https://linktr.ee/facelesspodHost: Jack McInroy Guest: Nicolás ObregónTheme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

The devil is unearthed in 18th Century England, inspiring the village youth to rape, murder and satanic worship, in one of the granddaddies of folk horror, The Blood on Satan’s Claw (1971). Dean Puckett, writer-director and lecturer at Falmouth University, joins to discuss the film. Dean’s feature debut The Severed Sun is at select cinemas and streaming on demand in the US from 16 May. There will be a screening of the film followed by a Q & A with Dean on 25th May at Genesis Cinema in East London. Tickets here: https://www.genesiscinema.co.uk/event/98321Host: Jack McInroyGuest: Dean PuckettTheme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqfhttps://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

With his former boss about to be released from jail, an East End mobster reflects on a life of crime, obsession and betrayal, in Gangster No. 1 (2000). Malcolm McDowell and Paul Bettany both play the titular role at different stages of life, ih a cast that includes David Thewlis, Saffron Burrows and Eddie Marsan. From the writers of Sexy Beast and director Paul McGuigan. Gareth Simms, co-host of 10TB Hard Drive podcast, joins to discuss the film. Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Gareth SimmsTheme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

It’s a double bill of Molly Dineen documentaries: Heart of the Angel (1989) about the inner workings of Angel tube station for BBC’s 40 Minutes strand, and Geri (1999), a portrait of Geri Halliwell following her departure from the Spice Girls. Leo Leigh, writer-director of Sweet Sue, joins to discuss the films. You can see Leo’s documentaries and shorts on his website.Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Leo LeighTheme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

Gina McKee, Molly Parker and Shirley Henderson are sisters searching for connection and direction in Michael Winterbottom’s tapestry of urban melancholy, Wonderland (1999). Michael Nyman’s score and Sean Bobbit’s cinematography make it one of the most atmospheric and memorable films of its era. Filmmaker and curator Nia Childs joins to discuss the film. Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Nia ChildsTheme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

Dirk Bogarde stars as Melville Farr, a barrister targeted by blackmailers, in noir thriller Victim (1961). Made at a time when it was illegal to be gay, Victim challenged the British film censors with an empathetic depiction of London’s gay community, and is the first film to use the word ‘homosexual’. John Airlie, Associate Lecturer in Film and Media at Birkbeck College, University of London, joins to discuss the film. Host: Jack McInroy Guest: John AirlieTheme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

In wartime England, three modern day pilgrims - a melancholy ‘land girl’, a plainspoken American GI, and a resourceful British sergeant - are waylaid in the English countryside where they have to solve a bizarre local mystery before going on to Canterbury to get the blessings they seek, in Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s A Canterbury Tale (1944). Writer, journalist and podcaster Dan Kois joins to discuss the film. Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Dan KoisTheme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland 

Two young lovers, reeling from recent breakups, connect over the course of an eventful day in South London, in the award-winning romantic comedy, Rye Lane (2023). Corrina Antrobus, author of I Love Romcoms and I Am A Feminist, joins to discuss the film. Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Corrina AntrobusTheme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland 

Tom Hardy plays Britain’s most notorious prisoner in Nicolas Winding Refn’s English language breakthrough film, Bronson (2008). Joe Greenwood, host of 10TB Hard Drive podcast, joins to discuss the film, and Refn’s career. Listen to 10TB Hard Drive on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Acast. Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Joe GreenwoodTheme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland 

When his wife admits to having fantasies about another man, Dr Bill Harford becomes obsessively jealous and finds himself on a psychosexual odyssey through an erotic underworld in Stanley Kubrick’s final film, Eyes Wide Shut (1999). Kubrick cast married couple Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman and recreated New York City on a Pinewood studios backlot in the longest shoot in film history. Eyes Wide Shut confounded many on its initial release, but over time has proven to be worthy of as much study and acclaim as any of Kubrick’s masterpieces. Jonathan Lethem, author of Motherless Brooklyn and Fortress of Solitude, joins to discuss the film. Jonathan’s latest book, Cellophane Bricks: A Life in Visual Culture, is available now from Ze Books. Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Jonathan LethemTheme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland 

After the Oscar success of A Room With A View, Merchant-Ivory followed up with another E.M. Forster adaptation, Maurice (1987). Maurice Hall (James Wilby) comes to terms with his sexuality in repressed Edwardian England, embarking on affairs with the aristocratic Clive Durham (Hugh Grant making his feature debut) and working class gamekeeper Alec Scudder (Rupert Graves). Directed and co-written by James Ivory, who would go on to win an Oscar for Call Me By Your Name, this is a landmark film in the history of gay cinema. Director-producer Stephen Soucy joins to discuss the film, as well as his new documentary, Merchant Ivory, which will be in UK cinemas in December. Visit merchantivoryfilm.com for information and bonus content. Host: Jack McInroyGuest: Stephen SoucyTheme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqfhttps://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland